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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
⭕️ During a visit to the newly recognized Israeli settlements of Kerem Reim and Sde Ephraim—built on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank—Israeli officials, including War Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and military officials, reinforced their commitment to settlement expansion.
Katz’s office stated, “We will not compromise the security of settlers or allow [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas and the PA to exploit illegal construction as a strategic threat against our communities.”
“The West Bank is the heart of Israel, and we will defend it by any means necessary,” Katz declared.
Smotrich echoed the hardline stance, claiming, “Since 1967, there has never been such a transformation in the West Bank.” He added, “The government has officially recognized 28 new communities and is enforcing Israeli law in areas previously neglected.”
Palestinians escape Rafah with no proper transportation, using whatever they can find as Israel’s military offensive intensifies in southern Gaza.
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❗️Al Manar correspondent in south Lebanon:
– "[Israeli] Enemy forces are obstructing the Lebanese Army’s efforts to complete the reopening of the Khallat al-Mahafir road in the town of Adaisseh, despite coordination with UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)."
– "The [Israeli] enemy has deployed a Merkava tank and a military jeep inside Lebanese territory, forcing the army to halt its mission and reinforcing the occupation of southern Adaisseh beyond the five designated points."
❗️Israeli occupation forces demolish agricultural facilities near the occupied West Bank town of Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem.
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❗️Media Committee in Jenin Camp, occupied West Bank:
– “The Israeli occupation continues its assault on the city and camp of Jenin for the 71st consecutive day, carrying out demolitions, burning homes, and converting others into military outposts."
– “On the third day of Eid al-Fitr, the occupation deployed additional military reinforcements, bulldozers, and armored vehicles to Jenin City and Camp, continuing road expansion, altering the camp’s geography, and demolishing residents' homes."
– “The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen for 21,000 displaced people as the aggression persists, with thousands losing their jobs and sources of income, while the siege on Jenin remains in place."
– “Approximately 600 homes have been completely destroyed in Jenin Camp, and 3,250 housing units have become uninhabitable due to destruction and fires caused by the ongoing aggression. Additionally, extensive damage has been inflicted on roads and infrastructure."
– “The occupation has expanded its assault on Jenin by storming the towns of Jalboun to the east and Qabatiya to the south, raiding homes and vandalizing their contents."
– “Arrests in Jenin Governorate are escalating daily, with dozens of young men detained, including the mother of a pursued individual from Qabatiya, though some detainees have been later released."
– “The ongoing Israeli aggression has resulted in 36 martyrs, including two killed by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, along with dozens of injuries and detainees."
❗️Gaza Ministry of Health:
– “42 martyrs (including 1 martyr who was recovered) and 183 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 24 hours."
– “A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the streets, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them."
– “The death toll and injuries since 18 March 2025 has reached 1,042 martyrs and 2,542 injuries."
– “The death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 50,399 martyrs and 114,583 injuries since 7 October 2023."
❗️According to a joint statement by the Israeli army, Mossad, and Shin Bet, the latest Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburb assassinated Hassan Bdeir, who they claim is "a terrorist in Hezbollah's Unit 3900 and the Iranian Quds Force."
The statement also claims that Bdeir recently helped Hamas in an operation, and that he "assisted them in planning and advancing a significant and imminent terror attack against Israeli civilians."
❗️Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ibrahim al-Moussawi:
– “What happened was a major aggression and took the situation to a completely different level. We hold the international community and Washington responsible for this crime.”
– “We heard the condemnation of the president and prime minister, but the matter should not stop there. The government must summon the ambassadors of major powers.”
– “The enemy (Israel) is the one who declared the end of the ceasefire agreement through its ongoing raids and violations in the South, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs.”
– “The situation can no longer be tolerated. Society is watching our children being targeted while they sleep, and there is no pretext for targeting civilians.”
– “We remain committed, and our state has a full opportunity after these violations. We are not war enthusiasts.”
– “When the Lebanese state declares that the enemy is violating the agreement, it must activate the highest level of diplomacy to find solutions.”
⭕️ The Trump administration announced on Monday that it is reviewing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to Harvard University as part of its broader campaign against what it claims is antisemitism on college campuses.
In a joint statement, the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and the US General Services Administration revealed that they are scrutinizing $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard, its affiliates, and the federal government, as well as $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments.
The focus on Harvard comes following the Trump administration’s decision earlier this month to revoke $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University.
⭕️ Israel is set to begin constructing a long-promised barrier along its Jordanian border in June, according to The Times of Israel. The project is expected to take three years to complete.
The fence will stretch from Hamat Gader, near the occupied Golan Heights, to Ramon International Airport, north of Eilat. A 30-kilometer (18-mile) section from Eilat to Ramon Airport was already reinforced in previous years, modeled after the heavily fortified barriers along the borders with Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip.
This expansion of Israel’s infrastructure comes at a cost of 5.2 billion Shekels ($1.4 billion). Additionally, Israel plans to establish new settlements along the border.
❗️Al Jazeera correspondent:
"7 martyrs and a number of wounded in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip since dawn today."
Journalist and Al-Aqsa Radio broadcaster Mohammad al-Bardawil was killed along with his wife and three children in an Israeli strike on Khan Yunis, southern Gaza yesterday.
He is the 209th journalist to be killed by Israel since the start of its brutal war on Gaza.
BREAKING | Israeli army announces that it will bomb the areas of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Sheikh Zayed, Al-Manshiya, and Tal al-Zaatar in northern Gaza.
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❗️Initial death toll of the attack on the southern suburb is 3, and several others reported injured.
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BREAKING | The top 3 floors of a residential building were destroyed in the latest Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut.
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BREAKING | A number of Palestinians were injured in an attack by extremist Jewish settlers in Al-Auja, north of Jericho, occupied West Bank.
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Arab states take part in Greek air drills alongside Israel
Israel had reportedly requested to keep its involvement in the drills a confidential matter
❗️Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir on X:
"Ms. Meirav Ben Ari, in response to your question, this is what I have done—I have ended the 'summer camps' in prisons. Next time, count to 10:
– No deposits
– No canteens
– 15-minute showers (instead of 8 hours)
– 1 hour of yard time (instead of 8)
– No large refrigerators
– Reduced meal plans
– No spokesperson status
– No studies
– No dental treatments
– No aesthetic treatments
What you didn't do, we did!
People of Israel are alive."
❗️Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri:
– “The Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs is not just a violation of Resolution 1701 but a blatant act of aggression against Lebanon and its capital."
– “This attack is a deliberate attempt to undermine the UN resolution and its implementation, which Lebanon has fully honored."
– “It also targets the efforts of Lebanon’s military, security, and judicial authorities, which have made significant progress in exposing recent suspicious incidents in the south—clear in their timing, objectives, and execution as Israeli operations."
– “This crime, like Israel's ongoing aggression, is a direct challenge to the sponsors of the ceasefire agreement. They must uphold their commitments, hold "Israel" accountable for its violations, and ensure its withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory."
❗️Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns the latest Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb:
– “Israel’s continued aggression requires us to intensify efforts to engage Lebanon’s allies worldwide and rally support for our right to full sovereignty over our land."
– “We must prevent any violation of sovereignty, whether from external forces or internal infiltrators who provide additional pretexts for aggression."
– “We will work with the government and its head to thwart any attempt to squander this exceptional opportunity to save Lebanon."
❗️A Hermes 900 and 450 drone are seen flying at low altitudes over the airspace of Bint Jbeil this morning, as Israeli surveillance flights continue over southern and eastern Lebanon.
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Israel prepares to occupy '25 percent of Gaza' in coming weeks: Report
Netanyahu recently outlined the 'final stage' of the genocide in Gaza, which includes the complete disarmament of Hamas and the ethnic cleansing of two million Palestinians as per Trump's 'Riviera' plan
❗️Lebanese Ministry of Health:
"4 martyrs and 7 wounded in the Zionist raid that targeted a building in the southern suburb."
New Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb kills several
Israel launched two missiles at a building and took out three of its top floors, marking the second attack on Beirut since last week
❗️Press statement issued by the Gaza Government Media Office:
– "The number of journalist martyrs has risen to 209 since the start of the genocide against Gaza, following the announcement of the martyrdom of journalist Mohammad Saleh Al-Bardawil, who worked as a broadcaster for Al-Aqsa Voice Radio."
– "We strongly condemn the targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation."
– "We call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and all press organizations worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza."
– "We hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and the countries complicit in the genocide—such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—fully responsible for this heinous and brutal crime."
– "We demand that the international community, global organizations, and institutions concerned with journalism and media condemn these crimes, take action to deter the occupation, and pursue it in international courts to hold its criminals accountable."
– "We also call for serious and effective pressure to stop the genocide, protect journalists and media workers in Gaza, and put an end to their targeting and assassination."
❗️Amjad al-Shawa, head of the network of NGOs in Gaza:
– "We have entered a new phase of famine due to the Israeli siege."
– "We have reached an unprecedented level of humanitarian catastrophe affecting our people."
– "The occupation is systematically working to harm the lives of citizens in the Strip."
– "Blocking water, food, and medicine from the population is a blatant violation, and the world must act."
❗️Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar to Al-Mayadeen:
– "Only the language of resistance and steadfastness will work with the enemy."
– "Hezbollah is practicing the utmost patience and deliberation, but patience has limits. We are waiting, and the resistance is still continuing."
– "The resistance is at full strength and prepared, and has compensated for all its losses many times over. This is not just talk to boost morale."
❗️Information obtained by Al-Mayadeen:
"A regular Hezbollah member, not a resistance leader or official, was killed in the attack on the southern suburb."
BREAKING | A joint Israeli army and Shin Bet statement says the latest strike on Dahiye “targeted a Hezbollah terrorist who had recently directed Hamas operatives and assisted them in planning a significant and imminent terror attack against Israeli civilians.”
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❗️BREAKING | Israel bombs the southern suburb of Beirut.
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